May 28, 2005 Half Moon Bay Cruise Half Moon Bay Yacht Club

(If you like, you can skip down through the prose and go straight to the pictures below!)

After a bouncy start with a strong ebb tide against a stiff northwest wind, eight intrepid Islanders punched their way out of the Golden Gate at 0800 on Saturday the 28th, turned the corner and had a nice sail in much smoother water down to Half Moon Bay. The sun greeted them when they got down to Pillar Point, and it was a glorious afternoon with a delightful gathering at the Half Moon bay Yacht club.

Our fleet included Dennis, Judy & Matt Bush, Natural High, Ron & Karen Damsen, Woodbine, Ralph Greenwood, Tranquility John, Nanci & Dennis Melton, Freedom Won, Kelley Montana, Chris & Claire Mellor, (with Nellie) Sensei Dale Snearly, 36 Double D's, Smokey & Laurie Stover, Evanescence, Vern Verling & Cheryl Lawson, Dream Catcher and Mike Tryon, Wind Lock. Wind Lock had a mechanical problem while headed out the Gate and turned for home. Art Fowler, representing Zenith, sailed down on Evanescence, while Betsy Fowler drove down, as did Rick & Sandy Van Mell, Vanishing Animal. Non-member, Twig with his I-36 White Horses tagged along too. Thus in total, twelve boats were represented.

Most boats grabbed moorings, while White Horses rafted up with Evanescence during the day, and tranquility had a new anchor, so they anchored just outside the mooring field. With several inflatables and outboards, there was plenty of transportation to go boat visiting and ashore to the yacht club.

Getting ashore to the Half Moon Bay Yacht Club has been a sandy adventure in the past because the dinghies would have to be beached. Then you'd have to worry about whether the tide was coming in or going out - and with about 6 feet of it, that makes a big difference! Just a week before our arrival, the HMB crew pulled together some old dock sections from the inner harbor and their own "Tom Sawyer" shuttle raft to make a dinghy dock. With the big dock sections secured to a mooring and an anchor, there was a place to land and tie up dinghies. Of course the local seagulls had been using it as a rookery and had left a bit of a pungent odor too! But with two big classic wooden-cheeked snatchblocks and 200 feet of dacron line, the little raft proved an ample shuttle to get ashore.

The big tricks were to 1) not put too many people aboard - 5 was OK, but 7 almost sank, and 2) move the weight to the aft end as you approached the beach to get as far up the sand as possible, and finally, 3) time your jumping off or on when the waves retreated. Great fun was had by all.

Once ashore HMBYC provided great hospitality. Vice Commodore Phil Armstrong with two great helpers welcomed us with open arms. With flags flying and even a little fire left in the patio stove to drive off the morning damp, we helped set up chairs on the protected patio, and were welcomed to put our potluck supplies in the kitchen.

After all of the boats were squared away on their morrings, we moved ashore at 1700. Hors d'oeuvres were placed on a convenient table in the center of the bar area - a companion to the great-smelling fresh popcorn provided by HMBYC. Libations flowed from the cozy bar, while overhead were flags from clubs near and far. We heated dishes on the stove, in the oven and on the grill outside - but then we were ready to spread it all out on the long buffet table and chow down.

It was a warm and pleasant afternoon and everyone turned in early for a good night's sleep. With a forecast for increasing winds by Monday, some boats headed home on Sunday. Those staying were invited aboard Sensei - Chirs & Kelley's new, spacious and cozy Norseman 447 for dinner.

White Horses, Natural High, Tranquility and Evanescence all left HMB Sunday at different times. Evanescence was the last to leave at about 1230. It was discovered that her two bladed folding propeller had lost a pin and a blade had fallen off. She stayed on a mooring while Smokey dove and changed the prop with a spare three bladed fixed prop before taking off.

Evanescence' sail up the coast was at least as spectacular as the sail down. They had 10-15 knots about three miles out on a port tack all the way back, with a reef set off of Ocean Beach before turning in towards the Gate on a flood. It was a little lumpy riding, but other people have to pay good money at Seven Flags for the same thing. Somewhere the GPS recorded 13.7 knots as top speed along the way. Not too shabby for a Freeport!

Ron Damsen reported that everyone got off just fine on Monday morning. They had to motor sail back most of the way because of the lack of wind. Leaving a few hours later may have changed that.

Pictures compliments of Ron Damsen, Smokey Stover, John Melton and Rick Van Mell.

Freedom One charges out the gate

Natural High on the move

Dream Catcher

Natural High sets sail

Evanescence goes racing!

Natural High approaching HMB

Looking north from Pillar Pt.	Beautiful shoreline	Beyond headland is surfing meca Mavericks.	Who is that boat...
shucks, not an Islander.	Half Moon Bay inner harbor...	outer harbor entrance	western edge.
Here comes Evanescence	36 Double Ds by telephoto	Phil tries Tom Sawyer	Here comes a dinghy...
it's Laurie ...	Safe landing and ...	ride ashore.	Half Moon Bay flags ...
clubhouse, ...	welcoming entry and ...	cozy fire.	Islander fleet.
Natural High	Natural High	Freedom Won	Freedom Won
36 Double Ds	36 Double Ds	Evanescence with White Horses far side.	Evanescense & White Horses
Woodbine	Sensei	Sandy Van Mell aboard for a tour	Set up for serious cruising
Great nav center	Chris returns	Rick balances to...	re-connect SSB antenna.
White Horses rafts up	Ron and Karen Damsen try the dingy	Art Fowler on Evanescence
"The bar is OPEN," says Dennis	Stovers & Ralph Greenwood come ashore	Dennis & Matt haul out Tom Sawyer	Laurie & Judy wonder if...
it will hold up!	They make it.	Wonderful hospitality	Corn shucking time
Laurie makes special sauce	Ready to cook!	Flags fly	I'd like cool white, says Sandy
Art Fowler, Dennis & Matt Bush	Good nibbles	All the brains	Twig & Ron Damsen
Kelley Montana, Sandy Van Mell, John Melton, Judy & Dennis Bush	Clair Mellor tries to get...	a smile from Nellie.	Tranquility crew Bob & Vern Verling
Bob & Cheryl Verling	Great food ...	from both ends.	Delightful dinner.

Nice day for a swim - or prop change

Going home - north

Dream Catcher ...

rises on a swell

Smile!